Larry Gene Carter (born May 22, 1965) is an American
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professiona ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...
and
coach
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Co ...
. He is formerly the
bullpen coach
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decisio ...
for the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
(MLB). He played in the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Y ...
organization for six years and made his major league debut in 1992.
Career
He was named Texas League Pitcher of the year in 1991 while playing for the
Shreveport Captains
The Shreveport Captains (1971–2000) and Shreveport Swamp Dragons (2001–02) were a professional minor-league baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana. They were affiliated with the California Angels (1971–72), Milwaukee Brewers (1973– ...
. He was originally drafted in the tenth round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986.
After his playing career was completed, Carter began work as a pitching coach within the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
minor league system. 2015 will be Carter's 18th season in the Royals organization including 11 years at the Double-A level, with Wichita (2002–07) and Northwest Arkansas (2008–12).
He was a member of three recent Championship teams, with the Triple-A
Omaha Storm Chasers
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, and play their home games at Wer ...
in 2014 and 2013, and with the Double-A
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, which ...
in 2010. He is credited with assisting in the tutelage of several of the Royals current pitchers, including
Danny Duffy
Daniel Richard Duffy (born December 21, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.
After being drafted by the Royals in 2007, Duffy spent the n ...
,
Yordano Ventura
Yordano Ventura Hernández (; June 3, 1991 – January 22, 2017) was a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ventura made his MLB debut on September 17, 2013. Known as a power pitcher ...
,
Kelvin Herrera
Kelvin de Jesús Herrera Mercado (born December 31, 1989) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals from 2011 to 2018, Washington Nationals in 2018, and Chicago Whi ...
, and
Greg Holland
Gregory Scott Holland (born November 20, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington N ...
. Larry was also the recipient of the "Mike Coolbaugh Texas League Coach of the Year" in the 2008 season. He also was named the Royals' 2014 Dick Howser Player Development Person of the Year.
He served as the Royals' minor league pitching coordinator from 2015 through 2019. He was promoted to bullpen coach of the Royals prior to the 2020 season.
Personal
Carter was born in Charleston, WV and grew up in Rand, graduating from Ravenswood High School. After earning all-state honors at Ravenswood, he played at Alderson-Broaddus College for two years and transferred to West Virginia State, where he sat out a year and then pitched the 1986 season for the State. He played one season at West Virginia State before getting drafted into pro baseball.
Today, he lives with his wife Jennifer, sons Matthew and Andrew, and their two weimaraners in suburban Dallas. In his spare time, he enjoys rooting for the
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Stee ...
and
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent West Virginia University, an American university located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I. The Mou ...
.
References
External links
1965 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Charleston, West Virginia
Baseball coaches from West Virginia
Baseball players from West Virginia
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball bullpen coaches
San Francisco Giants players
Kansas City Royals coaches
West Virginia State Yellow Jackets baseball players
Johnson City Cardinals players
Clinton Giants players
Everett Giants players
Salinas Spurs players
Shreveport Captains players
Phoenix Firebirds players
Tyler Wildcatters players
Minor league baseball coaches
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